Friday, October 9, 2015

Hearing scheduled for man accused of ripping off incapacitated brother in Lansdale


By Michael Goldberg

LANSDALE >> The case of a 65-year-old Philadelphia man arrested over the summer for allegedly writing checks from the account of his brother — who was incapacitated and a resident of a Lansdale nursing home — without permission in order to pay his own personal bills has been transferred from Lansdale district court to Whitpain district court, with a preliminary hearing that has already been twice continued now scheduled for Nov. 24, according to court records.

Theodore Vogel, of the 1600 block of Faunce Street, was taken into custody and arraigned July 31 before Lansdale District Judge Harold Borek on four counts each of second-degree felony forgery and first-degree misdemeanor bad checks, as well as two counts each of theft, receiving stolen property and possession of an instrument of crime with intent, all graded as first-degree misdemeanors.

According to court documents, a woman reported to Lansdale police that her brother-in-law — who resided at the Golden Living Center on West Fifth Street — was the victim of check fraud; she told police that she and her husband had power of attorney because the man was no longer capable of handling his own affairs.

The woman said she discovered two checks, totaling $1,050, were written from her brother-in-law’s bank account in April and May and advised that Vogel — who had access to his brother’s checkbook as he had power of attorney in the past — was the responsible party, and that no one had given Vogel permission to access the funds, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Criminal charges were filed against Vogel on July 14, records indicate.

Court personnel familiar with the matter were not immediately available Wednesday to discuss why the case was transferred.

Vogel is free on $10,000 unsecured bail while awaiting his hearing before District Judge Robert Sobeck.
 
Full Article & Source:
Hearing scheduled for man accused of ripping off incapacitated brother in Lansdale

1 comment:

Ken said...

I am sorry for her - that she has such a son. It's terrible.